Electric switch



May 6, 1930. G. B. THOMAS ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 23, 1923 llllll ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE IB. THOMAS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE BRYANT ELEC- TRIO COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed March 23, 1923. Serial No. 627,104.

My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to a switch of the canopy type. The object of my invention is to provide a compact switch of etficient and economical construction, adapted for installation in the restricted space available in a canopy base, while nevertheless capable of safelyx controlling the circuit of a lamp mounted at the canopy.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig.1 is a section through a canopy installation with which a switch embodying my invention is associated;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section through the switch;

Fig. 3 is a section on :the line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a dropped perspective of the insulating base of the switch; and Fig. 5 isa perspective of the switch housmg. V

In fixtures of the type illustrated it is com mon practice to cover the usual outlet box 6 with a decorative canopy '7. Such canopies are generally very shallow in order to hold the lighting fixture 8 as close as practicable to the wall 9 into which the outlet box is set.

Where it is desired to control the fixture circuit from the canopy, it is necessary to provide a very shallow switch which may be installed within the canopy plaque, while at the same time the switch must be of suitable capacity to safely handle the lighting current.

A suitable shallow switch construction for this purpose is provided by the present invention.

According to the present invention the switch comprises an insulating base built up from a group of plates or discs of insulation.

such as fiber, which may be readily stamped ofi'set through marginal notches with their bases 18 and 19 lying against the opposite 'receiving lugs 20 and 21 adapted to receive the bared ends of the ig-tail connections 22 and 23, which are sol dered thereto and by which the switch is connected to the main 24 and branch wire 25 of the installation. The main 26, is as usual, carried directly to the lamp receptacle of the candle socket 27.

The disc 11 is juxtaposed to the face of the disc 10 and is marginally notched at 28 and 29. to accommodate the terminal lugs 20 and 21 and the bases 18 and 19 of the contact strips.

The disc 12 is juxtaposed to the disc 11 and is marginally notched at 30 and 31 to accommodate the wire terminal lugs 20' and 21 which project through the disc 11.

The disc 13,.for1ns a bottom closure which houses-in the conductors on the base and prevents accidental contact therewith. The disc 13 is of greater diameter than the discs 10, 11 and 12, and rests against the edge of the cup-shaped metallic casing 32 which, as usual. is provided with. an insulating lining 33. The margin of both the casing and its lining are notched at 34 to receive lugs 35, which project from each of the discs 10, 11 and 12, thus holding the base in fixed relation with respect to the casing. The latter is also notched at 36 and 37 on opposite sides of its axis to accommodate the plg-tails 22' and 23 which project therethrough from the terminal lugs 20 and 21, which are carried by the disc 10 and lie in a plane at right angles to the axis of the switch casing.

The several discs 10 to 13 inclusive are all centrally pierced in register at 38 to accommodate the inner reduced end of the switch spindle 39 which extends therethrough, and is spun over at 40 against a bearing washer 41 which lies against the outer face of the closure disc 13. Arranged on the spindle is a rotary switch member 42 having peripheral ratchet teeth. The rotary switch bar 43 which is carried thereby is provided with contact wings 44 which overlie alternate ratchet teeth and make and break contact IOU with the spring contacts 16 and 17 on the operation of the switch. A driving connection between the spindle and switch plece is established by lugs 45 struck from the spindle and taking into notches 46 in the rotary switch piece 42.

Adjacent the switch piece the spindle 39 has an enlarged hub 47, the shoulder 48 of which bears upon the rotary switch piece 42 through an insulating washer 49, which prevents contact between the spindle and the switch bar 43. The spindle is steadied by the hub 47 which lies within the bushing 50 setinto and rigidly secured to the neck 51 of the casing 32. At its outer end the spindle is threaded at 52 to receive a draw-up nut 53 and also the operating thumb piece 54. The

- tains the parts in properly housed relation.

Engaged on the threaded bushin 50 are clamping nuts55 and 56, between w ich the canopy 7 is engaged, and by means of which the switch is supported in the hole 57 formed therein for its accommodation.

The various parts of the switch mechanism are readily formed from sheet material by stamping and forming operations. Their assembly upon the switch spindle 39, after the pi tail connections have been soldered to their terminals, is readily accomplished by slipping the parts over the reduced end of the spindle until they butt against the shoulder 48 of the enlarged area 47. They are permanently secured in position by spinning over the end 40 of the spindle. The casing 32 may then be slipped over the opposite end of the spindle andsecured in position by means of the draw-up nut 53. The latter is of less diameter than the bushing 50, so that the nuts 55 and 56 may then be threaded on the latter and the thumb piece 54 attached. The make and break operation of the switch is accomplished by the rotation of the spindle in well understood manner.

The construction is simple and efficient in operation and presents the marked practical advantage of leading the pig-tails 22 and 23 from the sides of the casingthus making it possible to install the switch in a much shallower canopy than can be used with switches in which the leads extend fromthe inner end of the switch in the direction of its axis:

Various modifications in detail will occur to ,those skilled in the art, without departing from what I claim as my invention.

I claim 1. In an electric switch, an insulating base comprising a group of juxtaposed plates of insulating sheet material, the outer plate of said group being of greater diameter than the others, a combined wire terminal and switch contact element secured against the face of an intermediate one of said plates and extending toward the margin thereof in the plane of an adjacent plate and thence over the margin to locate the switch contact portion thereof above said plates, said adjacent plate being notchedto accommodate said wire terminal, together with marginal lugs on the contact carrier and notched and a switch cover resting on the pro1ecting marginal area of said outer late and surrounding the other plates, sa1d cover being notched to receive said marginal lugs to hold the engaged plates in register and apertured to accommodate lead wires.

2. In an electric switch, a base comprising a number of juxtaposed plates of insulating material, a number of wire terminals secured on one side of an intermediate plate of said group, switch contacts on the opposite side of said plate and spaced therefrom to lie above the plate that rests on said intermediate plate, said terminals and switch contacts being formed as integral pieces with a connecting portion extending from said terminals over the margin of said intermediate plate to said contacts, whereby the contacts are supported from said intermediate plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GEORGE B. THOMAS.

plates, 

